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REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION 



HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, 



RELATIVE TO THE 



PRESENT PUBLIC SCHOOL LAWS. 



READ FEBRUARV t. If?!'?, AND ORDERED TO RH PRIMED 



1' K E .\ T O ,N : 

IT.IM'ED GV SIIER.MAN AM> tlARR<>\ 

1849. 






REPORT 



The Committee on Education, to whom was referred 
that part of the Governor's message, which relates to the 
subject of public schools, and also several memorials 
from different sections of the state, praying for various 
changes and modifications of our present school law, 
have taken these matters into careful consideration, and 
would respectfully submit the following report : 

That the perpetuity of our republican institutions 
depends upon the intelligence and morality of the people, 
and that it becomes the legislature to give a profound 
and serious attention to all those .plans which will serve 
to strengthen the foundations of our government, by 
encouraging the moral and intellectual training of the 
rising generation. The committee rejoice to perceive 
that the people are awakening to the importance of 
popular education, and that in some sections of the state, 
they are cheerfully submitting to the imposition of heavy 
taxes, by special laws, in order that the schoolmaster 
may be brought to the doors of the humblest citizen. 
They look forward with hope and confidence to the time 



when, by the wise co-operation of the legislature, with 
the heal^liful progress of public opinion, the opportu- 
nities to acquire a thorough education will be placed 
within the reach of all the children of the state. Your 
committee, however, are averse to taking any step upon 
this important subject, or recommending any innovations, 
which would be in advance of the popular sentiment. 
They believe that more good will be accomplished at 
present, by a gradual than by a sudden change of the 
existing laws, and that the cause of education will be 
retarded, unless the action of the legislature will meet 
with a hearty response from the great mass of the people. 
They have, therefore, carefully considered the memorials 
from different sections of the state, praying for a large 
increase of the School Fund, and for the removal of all 
restrictions from the townships, as to the amount of 
money to be raised for school purposes; and whilst they 
believe that these memorialists have been prompted by 
the most philanthropic motives, finding in the hearts and 
desires of the committee the warmest sympathy, they do 
not deem it advisable at this time to comply fully with 
their requests, but to respectfully suggest the following 
changes in the present law : 

1. That the sum of ten thousand dollars be paid by 
the State Treasurer, from any moneys in the treasury of 
the state, to the Truste'es of the School Fund, to be ap- 
propriated by them, in addition to the thirty thousand 
dollars which they are already required to appropriate, 
out of the annual income of the School Fund for the 
support of public schools. 

2. That the fourth section of the '•' Act to establish 
public schools," be so far amended as to authorize the 
inhabitants of the several townships of this state to 



raise, by taxation or otherwise, any sum of money for 
the support of public schools that they may think 
proper; provided, such sum shall not be more than four 
times the amount received from the state, through the 
board of chosen freeholders. 

3. That no township shall be permitted to draw its 
apportionment of the School Fund, which neglects or 
refuses to raise at least an equal amount by taxation or 
otherwise. 

4. That the ninth section of the ''Act to establish 
public schools," be so far amended as to confer upon the 
Trustees of the School Districts, the authority to appro- 
priate so much of the money raised for school purposes, 
as may be necessary for heating, renting and repairing 
school houses. 

JNO. T. NIXON. ^ 

WILLIAM F. DAY. > ^ 

JNO. S. miCK. ^ Commttcc. 

JOHN ACKERMAN, Jr. 



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